Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Any BSS owners?

Can pick up a 12 for a decent price. I know a little about them and they seem like a well built sxs

I have owned 2, dam fine scattergun. I cant shoot em but from a quality standpoint their great IMO

I have a 28" 12 Ga BSS with the straight grip stock

I had the M/F chokes reamed out to a Light IC over Light Modified ( .007" / .015" ) for close in grouse hunting in the bush around here.

I find the BSS a tad heavy for grouse hunting, but it swings great and is a total blast for shooting low gun skeet.

It kicks hard with anything heavier than 2-3/4 Dram loads.
3" magnum shells are painful. I am thinking that backboring and long forcing cones would help with the recoil and a bit of weight loss.

What is a decent price in your neck of the woods?

I'm laughing (at myself) - I've owned two Browning BSS in 20 gauge over the years, an early one without the barrel selector, and a later one - never could hit worth a damn with either one! Nice quality though, equivalent to the Citori O/U. Odessa

They are rather popular with guys shooting the vintage-events at sporting clays competitions. Heavy, built solid, will take many thousands of rounds without a hickup. For a gun to carry all day chasing birds I prefer a lighter SxS but for a dove field shoot where you're sitting put they are just about perfect.

A guy I used to know loaned me one quite a few years ago - it shot well for me on doves and quail. A good friend currently has a pile of them. His Dad collected them and had one in each configuration they offered. He ended up with them when his Dad passed and won't sell me any He shoots them quite a bit - 5 stand, clays and hunts them.

I have had two twenty guages both IC/M. First one with out and the second one with selective trigger. I hunted quail exclusively with the first during the 72-73 season. Me and a rookie bird dog that developed into the finest dog I ever followed in that single season, took limits of quail at least two days per week during the long season.

My only quarrel with the gun was lack of barrel choice and it was a little heavy for guage.

The second is an interesting story. My father-in-law, an avid quail hunter, with whom I had been sharing days afield for over twenty years, and whom was much loved and respected by me, brought his old beater Browning .22, and asked me if I could trade it for a twenty double. He said that as he got older, his L C Smith 12 was beginning to beat him up.

FIL was old school and did not want to be obligated to anyone, but I saw an opportunity. I replied that perhaps I could. I bought him a new Browning 20 double, had his old .22 professionally restored and kept it. I gave FIL the new double and told him that I had traded. He loved the gun.

After some time, he told his domino playing buddies of my gun trading ability. One old guy who knew guns, told him that there was a good $500-600 gap and perhaps more between the worth of the .22 and the shotgun.

Next trip out to see the old folks, FIL retrieved the gun and handed it to me and said that he knew what I did and that he could not accept the gun. I assured him that the gun was something that I wanted to do, to no avail. I tried another approach. I asked him to keep my gun for me, use it as he pleased as long as he lived, and that I would take possession after that. He called the family together and made sure they understood the deal and that the gun was mine.

After FIL passed away, I retrieved the gun, hunted it a couple of times. Problem was that I missed FIL very much and became melancholy while carrying the gun. Liked it very much, still a bit heavy for guage and sold it.

I still have his .22 and L C Smith . The Elsie is mounted in our home in a place of honor and rememberance to a fine gentleman.

Jack

I had a couple 20's and a 12.. I liked the way the handled, but the second 20 ga. shot most of the pattern below the line of sight.. The 12 would shoot trap loads fine.. It was a 3".. I bought it for turkey.. With the left barrel and a 3" shell it shot low and left..

Love a good story. Thanks for sharing.

Well told story, Jack.

I have owned five or six over the years and presently have the Grade 2 Browning BSS.

my son has a Miroku SxS that i bought off the fire here a couple years ago as a gift for him when he got his Eagle Scout. it is an un-badge Browning BSS and it shoots well and is built nice. his has double triggers and a straight grip stock. i would love to find a similar gun in 20 ga for myself down the road.

I also have a like new Miroku SxS made before Browning started putting their name on them.

I've had a 20 ga. BSS for over 30 years I think. It was bored a bit tight and Carlsons installed thin wall choke tubes for me. I've come to rely on it as my go-to grouse gun. We have ruffs and blues (usually...) near my hunting camp. I load 4's in the open barrel and 5 1/2's or 6's in the second barrel. When I miss it is my fault-

I have a 12 gauge BSS with 26" IC/MOD barrels and nonselective trigger. It is a bit heavy but I hit with it as well as I ever have with any other shotgun. It is the last shotgun I will ever sell. Love that thing.

I have a few. I love them. I am sad that I left it home today in favor of my sp5 beretta.....I never miss with my bss, and can't hit squat with the silver pigeon....

My grade 2 is a bit different.

Grade 2 is nice!

I bought a BSS 12 last year, I have not shot it much but like it.
It is heavy but most things built like a tank are